Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Finishing Touches

I've had a few projects on the go for a while and yesterday was finishing off day. During our stay at the cottage over the New Year, we took a trip to Lyme Regis. While there, I came across a rather lovely bedding set, a duvet and two pillowcases, in a charity shop. I wouldn't generally buy bedding from a charity shop (other than to cut up and repurpose for which it is indeed very handy) but this set was like new, a lovely quality pure cotton in pink and white candy stripes. £4. Well, I couldn't leave it behind.

Now on the label, it assured me it was a kingsize duvet. Of course, my bargain turned out to be too good to be true when I measured it up at home and found out it was a double. So, I decided I would take the duvet apart and edge it with complimentary fabric to make it the required size.

Well, I didn't realise quite what a job this would be. Kingsize duvets are huge and so I was adding on enormous lengths of cloth. In fact, I ended up buying three metres of my pretty Cath K rose sprig fabric to complete the edging. Hmm, not such a bargain after all! It was a pretty boring job to be honest; cutting long, straight strips of fabric which required very looong lines of straight and zigzag stitching. So, I kept parking it after doing a few hours work on it but it was annoying me that it was continually occupying a space on the end of the ironing board, looking at me and needing to be finished.

So yesterday, it was finished and put on the bed where I am very pleased with it. You can probably just see above that I added a wide strip to the top and a narrower strip down both sides. Never again, I tell you!

Did you spot that other rather lovely item on my bed (other than the super-gorgeous Vorey-Puss?) Yesterday, ding dong went the doorbell and there was the postie with my latest eBay purchase. The divine pattern on this eidy meant it simply had to be added to the collection!

Truly scrumptious!

Don't cats always find the warmest spots? Vorey is very pleased that the sun has finally made an appearance.

Now, do you remember when I started my latest crochet project, the pin wheels edged with black? Well, I spent the rest of yesterday finishing off my square and joining everything together. Another boring job! I must say, working with black is so much more difficult, you just can't see the spaces to stick your hook through in the easy way you can with light colours.

So, here is the finished square looking pretty nice draped over Gregor. Gregor is so in touch with his feminine side!

But Gregor was not going to be that lucky, and into a cushion went the square.

The chair has been treated to a green blanket for the unveiling occasion, though the green (rather than pink) is taking some getting used to.

When I made my last crocheted cushion, several of you wrote to me asking how I put them together and I did try to explain. Well, here you can see my square, blocked to 18", on top of a square of black woollen backing fabric. The fabric is about half an inch bigger than the crocheted square all round.

I then pin the crocheted square to the fabric around the edges, pulling it gently to shape, trying to get the edges even.

I then simply hand stitch, using simple over stitches, the crocheted square to the backing fabric using the same coloured thread. I then make up the cushion back in the normal way. This time with some delicious Cath K Provence Rose.

When I finally sew the front and back together, I sew with the front (ie. the black) uppermost and use my zipper foot so that I can keep my line of machine stitching right next to the crocheted edge, without actually sewing over the crocheted edge. You can feel the crocheted edge with your fingers as you go along because it creates quite a ridge. This way works for me.

Just to remind you in case you fancy a go yourself and to say a big thank you to Yvonne, the pattern for the pinwheel squares is from the marvellous Yvestown blog.

I would have given up when I found out it was a double, I am impressed you kept going, it does look great though. I love Gregor, he looks fabulous with his new chair pad and lumbar support. The cushion looks great in black, that will be my next cushion project, after the throw, and the 2 quilts!!!!! I have been crocheting the backs of my cushion. I used a tutorial from Lucy at Attic 24, she uses thrifted sweaters/jumpers, but we don't have any of those here in the middle of a sub-tropical summer, so I altered it by crocheting treble rows. This way you have two cushions in one, if you get sick of the front you can flip it over.

Congrats Hen on getting a couple of UFO's off the list.Nice colours in the "new" duvet cover and eidy, can see why you couldn't pass it by!Crochet cushion cover looks great, I imagine Gregor was quite happy to pose with it, as it does have some "manly" colours in it!

Congrats Hen on getting a couple of UFO's off the list.Nice colours in the "new" duvet cover and eidy, can see why you couldn't pass it by!Crochet cushion cover looks great, I imagine Gregor was quite happy to pose with it, as it does have some "manly" colours in it!

Hi Hen, just read your latest blog post, love the crochet and eiderdown and the duvet set...Bargain! Lyme Regis charity shops are normally so expensive! Can you email me your address again, I now have the CL tickets...do you still want a pair? Let me know. Love, Kathyx PS Have just come back from holiday...fab!

I keep saying it, and I'll say it again, you are so talented, wow! Love what you did with the CS bedding, and that eiderdown is gorgeous!I love your cushion cover, it is so pretty, infact, I love everything you make, I adore reading your fabulous blog, it is indeed a treat. xxxxx

I was just wondering, could you perhaps, if you have the time, talk me through the basics of patchwork, how you do it? I would be really thankful if you did, I'll send you a little something as a thank you. I'm just itching to do patchwork, but since I am new to the sewing machine, I am really nervous about it. xxxx

Your cushion is just lovely! As is the bedlinen... and indeed your whole blog! I have enjoyed visiting and looking through your inspirational posts. So pretty and colourful. I am sure to come back. And thank you for your visit and lovely comment in my blog. So pleased I found you.

What a lot of work for you! I really appreciated that explanation of blocking out - even though I don't crochet, I like to know how the things I collect have been created, and I could never work out that bit! The finished cushion is beautiful.

Hi Hen, lovely post again. I am sure I looked at that eidy on ebay, I am after a bigger one myself and it is lovely. However, I wonder if you would pop over to my blog today as I have mentioned you in it and hope it might bring a smile, Best wishes, Karen

Oh there you go again, stirring up this nasty green eyed creature that lives within me!!!I have been trying to teach myself crochet, Granny squares are not as hard as you think, but somehow, mine don't look as good as yours. Tricky though, you need 2 hands at once, how can I eat biscuits at the same time? Plus I have only made 3 upto now!!! Single squares that is - rubbish! ha ha.

Of all the crochet colour combinations.. the vibrant colours against black..has to be the best. Very striking.. and very clever Hen..So much for my learning to crochet resolution this year..Got as far as finding a crochet hook..you never know..might actually find some wool soon!

So many beautilicious things - how do you do it?! The duvet cover is just gorgeous, though I can well imagine how cumbersome to handle it was. Totally worth it though, the fabrics are so pretty together. The whole bed looks just so comfy and nice. Trust puss to find the sunshine - they always will though! Loving the cushion cover heaps - the black background makes the colours pop doesn't it? I like the pattern you've used very much. It is tricky working with dark colours I know - you can't see a thing that you are doing! Love seeing your creations.Siobhan

Love the eiderdown! Why is it whenever I come to your blog I come away wanting something?You are a bad influence!You are so clever with that machine of yours, I haven't even sewn a line with my machine yet!!!

Love the eider! I want to make a cover for my couch, but it's one of those big, boring jobs that I'm avoiding. You're good incentive, seeing you tackle a job right away. (OK, with a little dilly dallying)I also love Gregor's make over. I kick myself for giving away a sweet black trimmed granny square afghan I bough years ago. Someone never wove the ends in and I got it for a song. That was back before I knew how to crochet and weave ends in and I gave up on it as well. C'est la vie! PS I loved seeing behind the scenes in your posts. Thanks,Rebecca

I've recently had to refashion a duvet cover the other way - from king-size to double - and that was a pig of a job too I can tell you. I never realised quite how much fabric was involved in a duvet cover until I started cutting and sewing it. Your duvet looks totally fab now though.

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About Me

Hello and thank you for visiting the HenHouse. I'm a stay-at-home thirty-something mum looking after Mr HenHouse and the Munchkin, aged 13 (going on 18). We also have a gorgeous and very spoiled ginger tom, Charlie Boy. Sadly we had to say goodbye to our two other furry boys this year. We have recently moved from the city to our dream home in the West Country. I have always loved vintage and have collections of eiderdowns, china and fabrics to name just a few. I love sewing and am an avid patchworker and quilter. As a family, we are dotty about the past and love the 1940s, often dressing up for re-enactment events. To fund my fabric habit, I sell handmade items in my Etsy shop. I'm pretty nutty about interiors, too and our homes have been featured in various magazines.